Serum creatine kinase activity in the elderly following a stroke.

A serial measurement of serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and its isoenzymes were made in elderly patients following an acute stroke. Seven out of ten patients had elevated CK levels. The maximum concentration was observed between 12-24 h and the level returned to normal within 84 h after a stroke. They all had positive skeletal (MM) muscle isoenzyme, and in only one patient heart (MB) isoenzyme was detected. None of them had positive brain (BB) isoenzyme. Measurement of serum CK activity will possibly provide guidance in the management of patients having recently suffered a stroke.